Risk Factors

What are the risk factors for Peripheral Vascular Disease?

A risk factor is anything that may increase a person’s chances of developing a disease. Risk factors can include certain activities, diet, family history, or many other things. There are many risk factors for PVD. Some risk factors can be controlled, and some are uncontrollable.

Risk factors that cannot be controlled

• Age (older than 50)
• Family history of heart and/or vascular disease
• Male gender
• Postmenopausal women

Risk factors that can be controlled or treated

• Smoking or use of tobacco products
• Coronary artery disease
• Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 or 2
• Dyslipidemia (elevated lipids in the blood, such as cholesterol)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle (physical inactivity)

Those who smoke or have diabetes are at highest risk of developing PVD because these risk factors cause inflammation and narrowing of the arteries at a faster rate.